> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.valar.space/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Orbit Raise
> Raise a spacecraft to a higher circular orbit and compare a min-fuel and a fastest option
> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](/llms.txt).
Orbit Raise plans a low-thrust transfer that raises a spacecraft from its current orbit to a higher **circular** target altitude. The platform always computes **two options** for the same target — a **Min-fuel** option and a **Fastest** option — so you can weigh propellant against time before committing. You review both side by side and **approve** the one you want; the approved option becomes a normal maneuver plan in the existing approval and execution lifecycle.
This page documents the Orbit-Raise-specific configuration and the two-option comparison. For the shared wizard steps (Overview, Initial State, Time Range, Review) and general Planner functionality, see the [Planner overview](/features/planner).
**Route:** `/maneuvers/planner`
## Creating a raise
In the Planner, click **New Plan**, and on the **Overview** step choose **Orbit Raise** as the **Maneuver Type**. The wizard's five steps are the same as every other plan (**Overview**, **Initial State**, **Time Range**, **Parameters**, **Review**); only the **Parameters** step is Orbit-Raise-specific, and there is no option picker — both options are always computed.
* On **Initial State**, the raise starts from the spacecraft's latest computed state vector, or you can select a different [state vector](/features/state-vectors) or initialize from the latest **public TLE** — exactly as for other plans.
* On **Time Range**, set the window (in UTC) within which the raise may run.
### Step 4: Orbit Raise Parameters
Configure the circular target the raise should reach and the propellant it is allowed to spend.
| Field | Description | Unit | Constraints |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ---- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Target altitude** | The circular altitude the raise should reach | km | Must be > 0 |
| **Position tolerance** | How close to the target altitude the final orbit must settle | km | Must be > 0. Default: 2 km |
| **Propellant available** | The spacecraft's available propellant (read-only) | kg | Read-out only — from the spacecraft's configuration |
| **Max fuel to be used** | The most propellant this raise is allowed to spend | kg | Must be > 0 and **≤ Propellant available**. Defaults to the full available propellant |
The **Max fuel to be used** value is a cap on the whole raise. It defaults to the full available propellant and cannot exceed it — if you lower it, both options are still computed, but a computed option is only **approvable** when it fits within the cap (see [Approving a raise](#approving-a-raise)).
When you reach **Review** and click **Create Plan**, the raise launches and appears as a single plan in **Evaluation** while its two options are computed.
## Comparing the two options
Once both options are ready, the plan detail shows them side by side as an equal-weight **Min-fuel** / **Fastest** selector. Each option lists the same figures so you can compare them directly:
| Figure | Description |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **ΔMass** | Propellant this option would spend (kg) |
| **Duration** | How long this option's raise takes |
| **Propellant left** | Propellant remaining after the raise (available − ΔMass) |
Select the option you prefer — the selected option is emphasized — and a single primary **Approve {option}** action (for example, **Approve Min-fuel**) commits it.
While the two options are still computing, each shows its own progress (**Queued**, then **Computing**), and each settles to **Ready** or **Failed** independently — if one option fails, the other stays usable. Full velocity-change (Delta-V) figures appear on the approved plan's [Plan details](/features/planner#plan-details) once you approve an option.
### When the two options coincide
For some raises the min-fuel and fastest solutions are the same. In that case the detail shows a single plan with a plain note that **Min-fuel** and **Fastest** coincide for this raise, and you approve that one plan — there is no separate comparison to make.
## Approving a raise
Approving an option turns it into a definitive maneuver plan and moves it into the existing lifecycle as **Approved**, exactly like any other plan. From there the standard **Approve / Reject / Delete / Export** actions and [Plan details](/features/planner#plan-details) apply, and the option you did not approve is discarded.
Approval runs a final propellant check. If the option you approve would spend more than the cap, or the propellant use cannot be validated, the raise is **not** saved and an inline message explains why:
| Message | Meaning |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Exceeds the max fuel to be used — this raise would spend more propellant than the cap** | The option's propellant use is above the **Max fuel to be used** cap. Raise the cap (up to the available propellant) or choose a cheaper option, then approve again. |
| **Couldn't validate the fuel use — please retry** | The propellant check could not complete. Approve again to retry. |
## When a raise can't reach the target
If neither option can reach the target — for example, the window is too short or there is not enough propellant — the detail does not show a plan with a disabled Approve. Instead it shows a plain message that the target **Can't reach this target**, naming the limit that blocks it (propellant or time) and telling you to **modify the target, window, or max fuel and try again**. The panel offers two actions:
* **Modify** — reopens the New-plan dialog so you can adjust the target, window, or **Max fuel to be used**.
* **Discard** — dismisses the raise.
## Eligibility
Some spacecraft cannot be raised — for example, one with no propulsion configured, or more than one thruster. When you configure a raise for such a spacecraft, the dialog shows an inline message that **This spacecraft can't be raised yet**, lists the specific reason(s), and blocks **Create Plan** until they are resolved.
## Related Pages
* [Planner](/features/planner) — Planner overview, shared wizard steps, and plan details
* [State Vectors](/features/state-vectors) — The initial state a raise starts from
* [Burn Plan](/features/burn-plan) — View and manage individual spacecraft maneuvers
* [Core Concepts](/platform-overview/core-concepts) — Foundational orbital mechanics concepts